Villone, former New York Yankee, now pitches in home state for Somerset Patriots

The actual distance from where Yankee Stadium once stood to TD Bank Ballpark in Bridgewater is a mere 50 miles. But, in baseball terms, the big leagues probably couldn’t feel much further away than they do for Ron Villone.

Home, however? It’s never been closer.

The 41-year-old Englewood-born Major League veteran lefty reliever signed with the Somerset Patriots on July 29, his first foray into independent ball after spending the first 18 years of his career in affiliated ball, including 15 seasons in the big leagues with 12 different teams.

But for someone with the impressive track record Villone has — he’s pitched in 717 big league ballgames — the Patriots provided him with an opportunity that a Major League club never could: To pitch in his home state.

“I’d never played pro ball in New Jersey, which is kind of nice. I’d heard of Somerset before, but I didn’t do any real deep research,” Villone said.

“Something inside of me told me that I wanted to still play, and I know that maybe the time is coming where I won’t play anymore. I really didn’t think I was going to play anymore, but I did keep myself in throwing shape and things just worked out here. I’m really glad they did.”

The closest Villone had come to pitching in New Jersey came in 2006, when he was dealt to the New York Yankees from the Florida Marlins. He grew up a Yankees fan — both of his parents were born in the Bronx — and has fond memories of watching his now-manager, Sparky Lyle, as a kid.

“Every day, I had to pinch myself a little bit when I walked into Yankee Stadium,” Villone recalls.

“But as soon as I got in, it was time to go to work. I didn’t have too much time to really slack off or not prepare. But that was a dream come true and I was very fortunate and very lucky to be able to play there. I cherished every moment of it and gave them all that I had.”

But, in between leaving the Yankees and signing with the St. Louis Cardinals in 2008, Villone was named in the infamous Mitchell Report, which has forever linked him to steroids. Villone was asked if he felt that being named in the report and essentially having his name dragged through the mud ultimately led to his current indy ball fate.

“I don’t think so. Things always are portrayed in the media sometimes differently than really what happens,’ said Villone, who rarely speaks on the record about the situation.

“You put yourself in positions, whether it’s good or bad, and those things are going to happen. I know who I am, what I represent and the kind of person I am. I think that takes me further than any kind of mud that I’ve been dragged through. I think my performance is more important, because that’s what people want to see.

“People have ideas about your age and your ability, and I’m guessing that’s obvious with my case this year. But I don’t doubt myself, and I know what I’m capable of doing and what I’ve done in the past, and I don’t think that’s going to hinder me or has hindered me in getting a job or moving on to find another job in the future.”

In his first eight games with Somerset, Villone is 0-1 with a 4.91 ERA in 7 1/3 innings pitched.

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Another name that surprised some people when it popped up on an Atlantic League roster was Saul Rivera’s. But it was more because of what roster he was on than that he was merely on a roster.

Rivera, who had made 249 Major League appearances over the past five seasons with the Washington Nationals and Arizona Diamondbacks, has been on the Road Warriors all season. The aptly-named club serves as the league’s traveling team, which plays all 126 of their games on the road.

“I’m here because I want to bounce back, get with an organization,” said Rivera, who pitched in the most recent World Baseball Classic for Puerto Rico.

“I was kind of surprised about (not being with an affiliated team), but that’s how it is. There’s nothing that you can do, just keep working and wait for the opportunity that you can prove that you can pitch at that level.”

For the 33-year-old righty, who appeared in four games with Arizona just last year, it’s been a bit of an adjustment going from the big league lifestyle to riding the bus every day.

“You have to adjust, and you have to get used to it quickly,” said Rivera, who has a 4.55 ERA in 22 appearances this season.

“If you don’t, it’s going to be a long season. I’m adjusting with it being a traveling team; you have to deal with it. But you’ve got a uniform on, you’re playing baseball. You’re doing what you like.”